Description: This is a review of studies investigating the effects of aphasia speech and language therapy on post-stroke aphasics.

Question(s) Addressed:

Question not specifically stated.

Population: Persons with aphasia post-stroke

Intervention/Assessment: Constraint-induced language therapy (CILT) was examined separately from other treatment approaches, as was volunteer-delivered treatment.

Number of Studies Included: Not stated

Years Included: 1970 – June 2002

Findings:

Conclusions:

Service Delivery

Dosage

Intensity

The authors found that studies demonstrating a significant treatment effect "provided an average of 8.8 hours of therapy per week for 11.2 weeks compared with the 4 negative studies that only provided two 1-hour sessions per week for 22.9 weeks" (p. 991).

The authors conclude that intense therapy over a short amount of time can improve outcomes of speech and language therapy for individuals with stroke-induced aphasia.